New member - glad to join you

[gray frog in manitoba]

Hi, I have always been a big fan of frogs and toads, as a kid would spend hours at the lake catching and releasing them. This is something that has been passed on to my kids. This summer we aquired 2 gray tree frogs. Although I had seen them numerous times out at our cottage, I really did not know anything about them. We've had Wilbert and Ribbet since July, and so far things are going well (though they may have been getting fed too much, as they seem to have slowed down some - but maybe it's the weather...actually snowing here today...so have added a heat light to sit over their house). Anyway, have already learned some things from this site and am looking forward to gaining more insight into my pets.

[John]

Welcome to the site. My 3 Grays are pretty inactive lately too as it gets colder.

[Kurt]

Welcome aboard. If you have not already read the gray treefrog care article, then please do so and enjoy.

[Tom Highum]

Welcome. Ask any questions you have and don't be shy. Also have you seen Kurt's Meet the frog articles? They are grand.

[Kurt]

Thank you.

[gray frog in manitoba]

Since I've only had these guys a short time, am really not sure what is normal...glad to know that their slowing down is probably normal. Do you provide a heat source for yours? I am using a 60 watt red nightlight (reptile bulb) during the day, and turn it off at night. I hate to admit this, because a lot of people may frown ~ but these guys originated from our lake, and we took them home with us (I let my kids convince me I was saving them from certain death from predators!). Both were brilliant green, one turned "gray" with dark toad markings within a couple of days, and the other had maintained his color until this week, and has now suddenly changed gray as well, no dark markings though. Is there anything I can do to encourage the green coloring to return? I have green paper under their aquarium and on the back side of it and some fake green plants inside. Do you know of anything else I could try? Was thinking of getting some of that reptile carpet that is very green. They spend most of the day hiding under a hollowed out tree log.

[John]

Mine are gray most of the time, occasionally getting their pattern back. Sometimes one of my males turns green on top. I believe colour is partly based on their background and partly on their mood. Mine are pretty tame - all feed from forceps and my female will sit on my hand and take food from the other. I don't heat mine and they just have a normal fluorescent bulb during the day time. None of mine hide - they spend their days sitting in the branches in plain sight.

[Tom Highum]

Maybe if you used a brighter light source, fluorescent (won't burn them)
Could it be that they don't like their diet or want sunlight?

[Kurt]

I don't think brighter light is the solution, Hyla versicolor/chrysoscelis is predominately nocturnal. So a bright light will not be appreciated too much.

[Tom Highum]

Hmm then why do you guys think they are not so green in captivity?

[gray frog in manitoba]

The heat light was just introduced last weekend. So that was well after Wilbert "changed". They are located in an area where the tank does get a lot of natural light during the day. I have been feeding them crickets (feed the crickets carrots, potato, apple). Maybe the color thing is just something I won't be able to understand. But if anyone has any ideas, please let me know. Thanks.

[John]

Mine sit under a fluorescent light during the day, no problems.

[Kurt]

Mood and surroundings dictate color. Grays do turn green from time to time captivity. Mine used to turn gray with pale green markings. Very cool. They loooked like lichen covered treebark.

[Kurt]

Mine sit under a fluorescent light during the day, no problems.

I guess what I am saying is that lights aren't critcal with most amphibians.

[Tom Highum]

Hmm my idea was that the lights might better simulate their natural environment

[Kurt]

Yeah, if they lived in a supermarket.

[Tom Highum]

Well they might like the Canned Foods Isle.

[Kurt]

They just might. I have seen canned crickets, mealworms, snails and so on.

[Tom Highum]

Jup. Do you know if they are greener if they hibernate?

[charitynbran]

hello everyone .... my name is charity i have an interest in darts and retf ( red eyed tree frogs)... any references for buying online ?